Tanner Glass can draw inspiration from what Kris Versteeg went through last year.

Currently on a professional tryout offer — or PTO as it’s more commonly known — with the Calgary Flames, Glass has relished the chance to vie for a spot on the NHL team as a gritty forward.

“It’s an opportunity — that’s how I look at it,” said Glass on Thursday morning before the Flames headed west to play their second last pre-season game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. “I think the game is still played within some boards, and there’s still a physical edge, especially out here in the west. I’m looking to bring that physical element to their team.”

Although he plays a different style of game than Versteeg, Glass can relate to what his current teammate went through last fall when he was on a PTO with the Edmonton Oilers.

“I have talked to (Versteeg) a little bit about his experience last year — especially at the end, and how it kind of went down with multiple offers, and things like that,” said the 33-year-old journeyman from Regina, who has amassed 511 regular-season games of NHL experience in addition to 67 more playoff outings. “That would be great if that was the case.”

After his tryout last year, Versteeg received multiple contract offers, and he eventually signed a one-year deal with the Flames the day before their season opener.

“I had a contract offer from (the Oilers) at the end of camp and a few other teams and Calgary as well,” said Versteeg, who wanted to play closer to his hometown of Lethbridge. “Really, I wanted to be in Alberta. I just wanted to come home and play at home in front of friends and family is the big thing.”

The two-time Stanley Cup champ made the most of his opportunity as he put up 15 goals and 37 points in 69 games before scoring once and setting up three others in four playoff contests.

That helped him earn another one-year contract with the Flames that he signed on June 29, two days before he could have become an unrestricted free agent.

“It was a whirlwind last year, so this year’s been nice just to come and settle in and be ready to go for the season,” said Versteeg, while noting that players like Glass on a PTO are being watched closely by scouts of other teams around the league. “You can go anywhere. Once the PTO is over, you can really sign wherever. You become unrestricted again.”

Last season, Glass played 11 games with the New York Rangers and 57 more with their American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack, before being called up to the big club for the playoffs for seven games in which he scored one goal and added three assists.

“I’ve said this before, playing in New York, I feel like I’m on a PTO every year the way they spend money and bring maybe too many guys into camp every year,” said Glass, who has also played for the Florida Panthers, the Canucks, the Winnipeg Jets and the Pittsburgh Penguins over the past 10 years. “It’s no different for me this year. I feel like I’ve got to come in here and put my best foot forward early and be consistent throughout camp.”

According to Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan, Glass has done just that.

“He knows — he’s been around — that it’s important to keep going at the pace he’s going at, so he’s going to get another chance (against the Canucks),” Gulutzan said Thursday morning. “I think he handled the speed and the pace . . . and the physicality part against younger, quick teams. Now we’re going to get a lot more NHL players in the next two games. We’ll just see how he keeps going.”

Veteran centre Matt Stajan, who practised on a trio with Glass and Freddie Hamilton leading up to Thursday night’s game, praised his linemate for his consistent work ethic.

“He’s a character guy who works hard and brings a lot of energy, and he’s great in the dressing room,” Stajan said. “He’s a really good person, so obviously it’s no secret what his situation is. You want to help those guys push. Playing on the same line, you’re going to do everything you can to make your line successful.”

Wingers Luke Gazdic, Garnet Hathaway and Curtis Lazar and centre Mark Jankowski are also candidates to lock down a fourth-line spot this season before the Flames have to trim their roster to 23 players on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Flames announced Thursday that Joseph Cramarossa has signed a minor-league deal with the AHL’s Stockton Heat, a day after the 24-year-old forward was released from his PTO.

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